The Orchard

Lemon cake — easy recipe with real lemons

Os detallo la receta del bizcocho de limón más rico que he hecho hasta hora. Me encanta. Recibí rondas de aplausos en este bizcocho. Además, es una receta que está lista en muy poco tiempo. 15 minu...

Citrus caviar: what it is, how we grow it in Valencia and how to use it in the kitchen

Citrus caviar or finger lime is an Australian citrus we grow in our Valencia grove. Tiny vesicles that burst in your mouth with lime and grapefruit flavour. No post-harvest treatment.

Cover crops in citrus groves — what they are, what they do and why we use them

Cover crops protect the soil, fix nitrogen and attract pollinators. How they work in Valencia’s orange groves and why healthy soil is the foundation of good citrus.

How to Store Citrus Fruit at Home — A Valencia Farmer's Guide

Supermarket oranges last weeks in the fridge. Convenient? Sure. It's also the result of fungicides, wax coatings, and weeks of cold storage. Ours don't have any of that. They're picked the day you ...

Why citrus fruit is wrapped in paper — and why it matters

If you have ever bought oranges at a market in Valencia — or from any fruit shop that takes its stock seriously — you will have noticed that each piece comes wrapped in thin, almost translucent pap...

Citrus ripening: what changes in the fruit and why it matters

When you buy an orange in the supermarket, it may have been picked weeks ago while still green, then ripened in a cold store with ethylene gas. When you buy one direct from the grower in Valencia, ...

How does rainfall affect citrus?

September rains in Valencia can boost or ruin the citrus season. How Valencian farmers manage water so the fruit that reaches your door tastes its best.

Buddha’s hand — what it is, what it tastes like and how to use this juiceless citrus

Buddha’s hand is a citrus fruit with no pulp or juice whose value lies entirely in the rind. What it is, what it smells like, how to use it in the kitchen and how it differs from other citrus.

Biodynamic farming — what it is, how it differs and what it has to do with citrus

Biodynamic farming treats the holding as a living organism. What it is, how it differs from organic, the Demeter certification and which principles we apply in our citrus groves.

Moro blood orange: the Sicilian variety we grow in Valencia

The Moro blood orange, originally from Sicily and grown in our Valencia grove, stands out for its garnet flesh and complex flavour between sweet and bitter. No post-harvest treatment, from the tree...